Apparatus for closing the toe of a stocking

ABSTRACT

To close the toe end of a stocking, a short length of an openended stocking, say 5-10 cm, is drawn on to a flat holder and is transferred by means of this holder to a position between a smooth support and a presser foot having a contour corresponding to the desired shape of the seaming line. The presser foot then moves the flat stocking end past a seaming and cutting device.

United States Patent 1 Christiansen June 12, 1973 APPARATUS FOR CLOSINGTHE TOE OF A r [56] References Cited STOCKING UNITED STATES PATENTS [75]Inventor: Bendt Andreas Christiansen, 3,513,792 5/1970 Rossler1l2/12l.15 Helsingof Denmark De Spain 1l2/121.l5 3,170,423 2/1965Henebry ll2/l2l.l2 1 Asslgnee= Hans Chrlsllan Andersen, 3,439,63712/1966 Haselgrove et a1... 112/12u2 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland2,760,696 8/1956 Shoaf 223/42 [22] Flled: Sept 1970 PrimaryExaminer-James R. Boler [21] Appl. No.: 76,604 Attorney-Watson, Cole,Grindle & Watson 63 C Related :LS. Application Data [57] ABSTRACTgglfiifg 0 1968 To close the toe end of a stocking, a short length of anopen-ended stocking, say 5-10 cm, is drawn on to a flat [52] Cl. l I112/121 15 holder and is transferred by means of this holder to a [511m. C|...1......11.i1.,.111111.11111111 "Dosh 21200 eeeeeiee eeeweee eemeeeh eeeeeee eee e feee Field of Search 12 43 39 having a contourcorresponding to the desired shape of 223/42. 112/25 12125 the seamingline. The presser foot then moves the flat stocking end past a seamingand cutting device.

12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDJUMZW 3.738.294

sum 2 [If 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATEMED JUN] 2873 INVENTOR ATTORNEYAPPARATUS FOR CLOSING THE TOE OF A STOCKING CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a Streamlined Continuation of U.S. Pat.application, Ser. No. 764,060, filed Oct. 1, 1968, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method ofclosing the toe of a stocking, especially a seamless stocking.

In the manufacture of ladies seamless stockings the stocking is knittedin the form of a tube, the open toe end of which is subsequently closedby forming a seam across the flattened tube along a seaming line ofpredetermined shape, and cutting away the material outside the seamingline. Various forms of seaming lines are used in practice, such as willbe described hereinafter, and these are usually composed of circularportions and rectilinear portions. The seaming is usually made bystitching, but other seaming methods such as fusing or glueing may alsobe used.

For carrying out the toe closing operation mechanically orsemi-automatically it has been proposed to draw the whole stocking on toa former or so-called inspection leg and then to clamp the toe portionbetween clamping means and upon withdrawal of said former, to close thetoe portion while held by the clamping means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a method of closingthe toe end of a stocking comprises the steps of sliding a short toe endportion of a tubular stocking blank forwards, i.e. toe end first, on toa flat holder, delivering said toe end portion, while in position onsaid flat holder, to a gripping device, withdrawing said flat holderfrom said gripping device, and while said toe end portion is being heldby said gripping device, producing a seam across said toe end portionand cutting away surplus material.

When proceeding in this manner, since only a short toe end portion ofthe stocking is to be slid onto the flat holder, the toe end portion canbe very accurately placed on this holder in a minimum of time,irrespective of the position of the rest of the stocking, and as soon asthe holder has been withdrawn from the gripping device, the operator canstart arranging the toe end of the next stocking on the holder inreadiness for transfer to the seaming position as soon as the seaming ofthe beforegoing stocking has been completed.

According to a further feature of the invention, the whole stocking isfirst slid loosely onto a stocking holder, whereupon the toe end ispulled forwards and slid on to said flat holder. In this manner, thestocking is supported in a controlled manner, while its toe end is beingprocessed, without however interfering with the liberty of arranging thetoe end on the flat holder or with the subsequent transfer and toeclosing operations. Thus, the stocking may remain on the holder untilthe whole process has been completed. Moreover, the stocking holder maybe in the form of a tube which may be used, in a manner known per se, incombination with a pneumatic system for everting the stocking prior tothe toe closing operation'and again reversing the stocking uponcompletion of this operation and conveying it to a collecting basket orto a following station in the manufacturing line. In this connection itis observed that it is generally preferred to scam the stocking toe onthe reverse side, but if this is not desired, the two turning steps willof course be omitted.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out thedescribed method. According to the invention, an apparatus for closingthe toe end of a stocking comprises a flat holder for receiving a shorttoe end portion of a stocking, gripping means engageable to grip theflattened toe end portion of a stocking across the whole width thereof,means for moving said flat holder to a position between said grippingmeans and again withdrawing it therefrom upon engagement of saidgripping means to grip the toe end portion, and seaming and cuttingmeans operable to close the toe end portion held between said grippingmeans.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said gripping meanscomprise a stationary smooth support and a presser foot movable intoengagement with and away from said support and also movable in a pathparallel to the plane of said support.

In this embodiment the stocking toe end will be moved along the smoothsupport under the influence of the presser foot, and during thismovement the seaming will take place by means of a seaming device in afixed position, e.g. sewing needles. The shape of the seaming line willbe determined by the movement of a single element, viz. the presser footand can therefore be very accurately controlled and adjusted as desired.

Upon completion of the seaming operation, the presser foot may bereturned to its original position. However, such return movement can beavoided by so constructing the presser foot that its contour comprisesat least two portions each corresponding to the shape of the toe closingseam of a stocking, thus permitting the presser foot to be progressivelymoved in steps each corresponding to a full toe closing operation.

A particularly simple solution is to make the presser foot circular. Inthat case the movement of the presser foot will be pure rotation so thatvery simple driving means may be used. Besides, idle movement of thepresser foot may be entirely avoided since seaming can start at anypoint of the circumference of the presser foot.

If other shapes of the seaming line are desired, driving and guidingmeans can be used, by which the presser foot is caused to perform acombination of rotary and translatory movement, such as will be furtherdescribed below.

To permit the above-mentioned pneumatic turning and conveying of thestockings in combination with the toe closing operation, the apparatusmay comprise stocking holding means in the form of a plurality ofparallel tubes all located at the same distance from a common axis,means for rotating said tubes as a unit about said common axis, andmeans for connecting said tubes to a source of vacuum in predeterminedpositions thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical perspectiveview of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 on a larger scale a front view, partly in section, of a presserfoot assembly forming part of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. I,

FIG. 3 a diagrammatic top view of the presser foot assembly as well as astocking toe end holder and a set of stocking holder tubes,

FIG. 4 shows one form of a seamed stocking toe end,

FIG. 5 a toothed disc forming part of the driving means for a presserfoot for use in the making of the seam illustrated in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 another form of a seamed stocking toe end,

FIG. 7 a toothed disc corresponding to the seam illustrated in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 a third form of a seamed stocking toe end,

FIG. 9 a toothed disc corresponding to the seam illustrated in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 a presser foot suitable for making a rectilinear seam, and

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an apparatus according toa further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS At the left end of theapparatus of FIG. 1 there are shown three parallel smooth tubes 1, 2 and3 in three positions a, b and c. The tubes 1, 2 and 3, each comprising astocking leg support member, are mounted on a disc 4 which is rotatableabout a horizontal axis, the tubes all being located at the samedistance from the axis of rotation. The tubes are located at an angularspacing of 120 so that upon rotation of the disc 4 through an angle of120, the tube 1 is moved from position a to position b, the tube 2 fromposition b to position c, and the tube 3 from position c to position a.The positions a and b are in the same horizontal plane. The tubes extendthrough the disc 4, and in positions a and c the rear ends of the tubesare connected to a pneumatic suction system, not shown. Position is thatclosest on the operator.

The disc 4 is mounted in a housing which contains driving means for thedisc. The driving means and the suction system are controlled by aprogram device. A tray 6 for stockings to be closed at their toe end ismounted on the housing 5 above the tubes 1, 2 and 3 in a positionconvenient for the operator. A pad 7, e.g. of foam plastic, isengageable with the outer surface of the tube at any time in position cand is movable in the longitudinal direction of the tube. The pad iscontrolled by the program device for movement between two end positions,and is shown in one of these end positions, which is outside the end ofthe tube.

The position of the operator is in front of the apparatus off the freeend of the tube 1 or other tube at any time in position a. At aconvenient distance from the tube end 8 and the operator a stocking toesupport and transfer member is mounted which is movable, preferablyrotatable relative to the frame of the apparatus. The transfer member 10comprises a bracket 11 which is rotatable about a pivot 12 on the frameof the apparatus. Moreover, the transfer member comprises a flatstocking toe end holder 13 consisting of a plate 14 which at its frontend is constructed with two spaced parallel fingers 15 and 16. The toeend holder is movable in the direction of the fingers l5 and 16. Themovement is produced by a pneumatic cylinder mounted in the bracket 11and controlled by the program device. The rotation of the bracket 11about the pivot 12 is likewise effected by means of a pneumatic cylindercontrolled by the program device. The toe end holder 13 is so mounted asto be readily replaceable by another holder of different size or shape.

Upon turning of the stocking toe support and transfer member 10 aboutthe pivot 12, the flat holder 13 is moved to a position between apresser foot 17 and a table'surface 18 of a sewing machine, see FIGS. 2and 3. The sewing machine may be one of conventional type from which thenormalpresser foot has been removed, its function being taken over bythe presser foot 17. In FIG. 3 the flat holder 10 is shown in itsinitial position in full lines and in its rotated position in dottedlines. The presser foot 17 is shown in the form of a disc 19 providedalong its marginal edge with a lip 20 of flexible material such asrubber. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the presser foot iscircular, but as will be explained below, it may also take other forms.A shaft 21 is rigidly attached to the disc 19 at its lower end and atits upper end carries a toothed disc 22 which in this embodiment iscircular and which meshes with a driving pinion 23. The shaft 21 withthe toothed disc 22 and the presser foot 17 are rotatably mounted in anexchangeable unit 24. When rotating the presser foot, the lip 20 movespast the needles 25 of the sewing machine at a short distance therefrom.

The pinion 23 is coupled to a variable speed electric motor 28 via amagnetic coupling 26 and a gear transmission 27. The pinion 23, thecoupling 26, the gear transmission 27 and the motor 28 are mounted in ahousing 30 swingable about a horizontal shaft 29, the latter beingmounted in two brackets 31 on the frame 9. The swinging movement of thehousing is produced by means of a swinging mechanism controlled by theprogram device and comprising a pneumatic cylinder 32 mounted on theframe and having a piston rod 33 which is pivotably connected with thebottom of the housing 30. The piston stroke is usually only a fewcentimeters. By the reciprocating movement of the piston rod 33 thehousing 30 is swung upwards and downwards about the shaft 29 whereby thepresser foot is lifted from and engaged with the sewing table surface18, respectively.

The operation is as follows:

The operator is seated off the tube end 8 and the flat stocking toe endholder. In the tray 6 there is a supply of open-ended stockings havingtheir outsides out and all having their toe ends pointing in the samedirection. The operation will be described for a stocking to be sewn onits inside, which is generally preferred. Of course the apparatus mayalternatively be used for making a seam on the outside.

The operator picks a stocking and holds its toe end in front of the tubeend 8. Then a suction pulse of short duration is released in thepneumatic system whereby the stocking is sucked into the tube orstocking leg support member 1, toe end first. The operator keeps hold ofthe welt end of the stocking, and when the stocking has been sucked intothe tube, which takes less than 1 second, he draws the stocking on tothe tube 1, whereby it is turned inside out. The operator now pulls thetoe end forward and slides a short toe end portion of the stocking, say5-10 cm, on to the two flat fingers l5 and 16. The fingers are providedwith markings so that it is easy for the operator to see when thestocking has been moved to the desired position. Since the fingers arespaced, the operator can directly see whether the stocking toe has beenplaced in correct position. The portion of the stocking supported by thetube 1 which is of course the major portion or practically the:

whole shaft length of the stocking does not interfere with theadjustment of the toe portion on the fiatfin I gers l5 and 16 because itfits very loosely on the tube end 8 and the fingers l5 and 16 may bemoved and twisted practically without any resistance at all.

Now a pulse is released to turn the stocking toe support and transfermember 10 to a position in which the fingers and 16 are located betweenthe presser foot 17 and the table 18. The presser foot is lowered toengage the stocking toe end portion present on the fingers 15 and 16. Atthe same time the tubes are turned 120, i.e. tube 1 to position b, tube2 to position 0 and tube 3 to position a.

The fingers 15 and 16 are now withdrawn from the stocking toe endportion, the latter beingheld by the flexible lip 20 of the presser footso as to be gripped between the lip 20 and the smooth sewing table. 18.The transfer member 10 is turned back, and the operator may nowimmediately start placing the toe end portion of the next stocking onthe fingers 15 and 16. It will be realized that he may have startedplacing this next stocking on the tube 3 as soon as it arrived inposition When the fingers 15 and 16 have been withdrawn, the presserfoot 17 is rotated by means of the shaft 21 whereby the lip 20 movesclosely past the sewing needles 25. Hereby a seam is formed across thetoe end portion, and superfluous material is cut off by conventionalmeans, not shown. Upon completion of the seam, the presser foot islifted to liberate the stocking, and the tubes are turned 120, tube 1from position b to position c, and similarly for the other tubes.

In position 0 the reversed-seamed stocking is again drawn fully on tothe tube 1 by means of-the pad 7 which is moved backwards along the tubeto engage the stocking web present on the outer side of the tube andthereby to slide the stocking backwards on the tube. When the closedstocking end strikes the end of the tube, the pad slips off thestocking. The stocking is now sucked into the tube, toe end first,whereby it is again reversed to normal position and carried away by thesuction air current. The pneumatic system may convey the stocking to asubsequent station in the manufacturing line or e.g. to a flat layingdevice for deposition into a collecting basket.

The apparatus may be constructed for semiautomatic or all-automaticoperation. In the former case, all the operator has to do, is to turnthe stocking inside out by means of the tube 1, to place the open toeend portion on the flat fingers and 16,, and then to release a pulse toset the program device in motion. This is to be done for each 120 turnof the tubes. In the case of all-automatic operation the operator doesnot have to release the said pulse, but instead has to adapt himself toa rhythm determind by the program device. In that case the turningmovement of the tubes may be continuous and will thereby determine therhythm of all the other operations.

PRODUCTION OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF SEAMS In stitching the toe end portionof the stocking it is important that the marginal edge of the presserfoot, or in other words the lip 20, moves past the sewing needles 25 ata substantially constant small distance. An

advantageous manner of obtaining this for different forms of seams willbe explained in the following.

The exchangeable unit 24 is so placed relative to the housing 30 thatthe zone of engagement 34 between the toothed disc 22 and the pinion 23is located substantially vertically above the sewing needles, asindicated by the dash-dotted line x in FIG. 2. Moreover, the outer edgeof the lip 20 and the contour of the toothed disc 22 are substantiallyidentical in geometrical shape and vertically in register with oneanother.

In the embodiment described above, the presser foot 17, and consequentlyalso the toothed disc 22 are circular as again illustrated in adiagrammatic view in FIG. 5. The corresponding seam is shown in FIG. 4.The seam 35' is part of a circular arc of l 80. The remaining parts ofthis half circle are constituted by a running in portion i and a runningout portion u where the stocking is not engaged by the sewing needles.It will be seen that in successive operations the presser foot alwayscontinues to move in the same direction. There is no return movement,and this also applies to the forms of seams to be described in thefollowing.

FIG. 6 shows the so-called sabot seam consisting of a straight line 36and a circular are 37. FIG. 7 shows the corresponding toothed disc 22 intop view. The zone of engagement is shown at 34. The toothed disc 22 isprovided on its top face with two guiding pins 38 and 39 running in aguiding track 40 formed in the upper wall of the exchangeable unit 24.By rotation of the pinion 23, the toothed disc 22 will first be movedrectilinearly to the left until the pin 38 is present at 42, and the pin39 assumes the former position of the pin 38. The toothed disc 22 isthereafter rotated about the pin 39 while the pin 38 runs along thesemi-circular part of the track to the position 43 originally assumed bythe pin 39. The toothed disc 22 has now made a half turn about itscenter 44, and the pins 38 and 39 have changed poof the fingers, thepresser foot is moved through the running in portion i, whereafter thestocking is engaged by the needles to form the seam portions 36 and 37.Upon further movement of the presser foot through the running outportion 14, the presser foot 17 is lifted to liberate the stocking.Depending on the desired shape of the scam, the presser foot may have toperform a certain amount of idle motion in its lifted position betweenthe running out portion u and the next running in portion 1'.

FIG. 8 shows a circular seam of smaller curvature than the seam of FIG.4. FIG. 9 shows the corresponding toothed disc 22 with zone ofengagement 34, guiding pins 38 and 39, and guiding track 40.

FIG. 10 shows a presser foot 22 for the seaming of a stocking of thetype in which shaped web portions to form the toe and heel portions havebeen knitted in the knitting machine. In such a stocking the seam is tobe made in the form of a straight line across the sole portion of thestocking. To make such a scam the stocking toe end portion istransferred in the same manner as described above to a position underthe presser foot which in this case is elongated and relatively narrow.Its

longitudinal edges are straight parallel lines at least as foot isdisplaced in its longitudinal direction along the arrow P and duringthis movement the sewing is performed. When the presser foot has beendisplaced through a distance corresponding to the distances between thetwo centers of curvature, and has arrived in the position 54 itslongitudinal movement is stopped, and it is again rotated, as indicatedby the arrow P this time to the position shown in full lines. Thestocking may suitably be liberated at the moment when the rotationindicated by the arrow P is commenced.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the invention slightly different fromthat illustrated in FIG. 1. Corresponding parts are denoted by the samereference characters as in FIG. 1, with addition of the letter a. Thethree tubes la, 2a and 3a are arranged to rotate in the oppositedirection. The flat fingers 15a and 16a are adjustably connected withthe bracket 11a. The presser foot 17a has an active contour portion 55corresponding to the seaming of a single stocking only and is returnedto its original position upon completion of each seaming operationinstead of being moved in progressive steps.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for closing the toe end of a stocking comprising astocking leg support member for slidably receiving the leg of astocking, a separate flat stocking toe support and transfer member forslidably receiving a short toe end portion of the stocking, grippingmeans engageable to grip the flattened toe end portion of the stockingacross the whole width thereof, means for moving said toe support andtransfer member independently of said stocking leg support member from aposition in readiness to receive the toe end portion of the stockingsupported on said stocking leg support member to a position between saidgripping means and again withdrawing it therefrom upon engagement ofsaid gripping means to grip the toe end portion, and seaming meansoperable to close the toe end portion held between said gripping means.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, in which said stocking leg support memberconsists of a tube connectable to a source of vacuum to evert a stockingmounted thereon.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, comprising a plurality of stocking legsupport members in the form of parallel tubes all located at the samedistance from a common axis, said apparatus further comprising means forrotating said tubes as a unit about said common axis, and

means for connecting said tubes to a source of vacuum in predeterminedpositions thereof.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, in which there is provided a padautomatically engageable with and slidable along the surface of eachtube in a predetermined position thereof.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, in which said presser foot is providedwith cushioning means for engagemen with said surface.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5, in which said cushioning means is in theform of an elastic lip extending along the contour of the presser foot.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1, in which said presser foot isprogressively movable in steps each corresponding to a full toe closingoperation, the contour of the presser foot comprising at least twoportions each corresponding to the shape of the toe closing seam of astocking.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7, in which the presser foot is circular.

9. An apparatus for closing the toe end of a stocking, comprising a flatstocking toe support and transfer member for receiving a short toe endportion of the stocking, gripping means engageable to grip the flattenedtoe end portion of the stocking across the whole width thereof, meansfor moving said flat stocking toe 'and a presser foot, means mountingsaidpr'esser foot for movement of said presser foot into engagement withand away from said surface, a toothed disc of substantially the sameshape and size as the presser foot, said toothed disc being locatedparallel to and substan tially in register with said presser foot andbeing drivably connected therewith, and a driving pinion in engagementwith said toothed disc, the zone of engagement between said disc andsaid pinion being substantially in register with said seaming means.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9, in which said presser foot and saidtoothed disc are each of irregular shape, said toothed disc beingmounted for sliding movement in its own plane, means being provided forguiding said toothed disc in such a manner as to permit sliding movementthereof while maintaining its toothed engagement with said pinion.

11. An apparatus for closing the toe end of a stocking comprising a flatstocking toe support and transfer member for slidably receiving a shorttoe end portion of the stocking, gripping means engageable to grip theflattened toe end portion of the stocking across the whole widththereof, means for moving said flat stocking toe support and transfermember to a position between said gripping means and again withdrawingit therefrom upon engagement of said gripping means to grip the toe endportion, and seaming means operable to close the toe end portion heldbetween said gripping means, said flat stocking toe support and transfermember comprising two flat fingers located in a common plane insubstantially parallel spaced positions.

12. An apparatus as in claim 10, in which the presser foot is circular.

i t l t l

1. An apparatus for closing the toe end of a stocking comprising astocking leg support member for slidably receiving the leg of astocking, a separate flat stocking toe support and transfer member forslidably receiving a short toe end portion of the stocking, grippingmeans engageable to grip the flattened toe end portion of the stockingacross the whole width thereof, means for moving said toe support andtransfer member independently of said stocking leg support member from aposition in readiness to receive the toe end portion of the stockingsupported on said stocking leg support member to a position between saidgripping means and again withdrawing it therefrom upon engagement ofsaid gripping means to grip the toe end portion, and seaming meansoperable to close the toe end portion held between said gripping means.2. An apparatus as in claim 1, in which said stocking leg support memberconsists of a tube connectable to a source of vacuum to evert a stockingmounted thereon.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 2, comprising a pluralityof stocking leg support members in the form of parallel tubes alllocated at the same distance from a common axis, said apparatus furthercomprising means for rotating said tubes as a unit about said commonaxis, and means for connecting said tubes to a source of vacuum inpredetermined positions thereof.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 3, in whichthere is provided a pad automatically engageable with and slidable alongthe surface of each tube in a predetermined position thereof.
 5. Anapparatus as in claim 1, in which said presser foot is provided withcushioning means for engagement with said surface.
 6. An apparatus as inclaim 5, in which said cushioning means is in the form of an elastic lipextending along the contour of the presser foot.
 7. An apparatus as inclaim 1, in which said presser foot is progressively movable in stepseach corresponding to a full toe closing operation, the contour of thepresser foot comprising at least two portions each corresponding to theshape of the toe closing seam of a stocking.
 8. An apparatus as in claim7, in which the presser foot is circular.
 9. An apparatus for closingthe toe end of a stocking, comprising a flat stocking toe support andtransfer member for receiving a short toe end portion of the stocking,gripping means engageable to grip the flattened toe end portion of thestocking across the whole width thereof, means for moving said flatstocking toe support and transfer member to a position between saidgripping means and again withdrawing it therefrom upon engagement ofsaid gripping means to grip the toe end portion, and seaming meansoperable to close the toe end portion held between said gripping means,said gripping means comprising a stationary smooth surface and a presserfoot, means mounting said presser foot for movement of said presser footinto engagement with and away from said surface, a toothed disc ofsubstantially the same shape and size as the presser foot, said tootheddisc being located parallel to and substantially in register with saidpresser foot and being drivably connected therewith, and a drivingpinion in engagement with said toothed disc, the zone of engagementbetween said disc and said pinion being substantially in register withsaid seaming means.
 10. An apparatus as in claim 9, in which saidpresser foot and said toothed disc are each of irregular shape, saidtoothed disc being mounted for sliding movement in its own plane, meansbeing provided for guiding said toothed disc in such a manner as topermit sliding movement thereof while maintaining its toothed engagementwith said pinion.
 11. An apparatus for closing the toe end of a stockingcomprising a flat stocking toe support and transfer member for slidablyreceiving a short toe end portion of the stocking, gripping meansengageable to grip the flattened toe end portion of the stocking acrossthe whole width thereof, means for moving said flat stocking toe supportand transfer member to a position between said gripping means and againwithdrawing it therefrom upon engagement of said gripping means to gripthe toe end portion, and seaming means operable to close the toe endportion held between said gripping means, said flat stocking toe supportand transfer member comprising two flat fingers located in a commonplane in substantially parallel spaced positions.
 12. An apparatus as inclaim 10, in which the presser foot is circular.